12 Dead In Russian Military Plane Crash

Reports from Russia say a Russian Air Force Antonov military transport plane has crashed in the Tula region south of Moscow, killing at least 12 crew members.

The ITAR-TASS news agency has cited a source in the Russian Defense Ministry's information department as saying the An-22 plane had been flying from the cities of Voronezh to Tver when it disappeared from radar screens at about 9:30 p.m. Moscow time on December 28.

The news agency quoted a Russian law-enforcement official as saying the plane went down on the border between the Tula and Oryol regions.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash.

The An-22 aircraft is designed to transport troops as well as heavy military equipment such as armored vehicles.

compiled from agency reports